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Phrase (usually used in formal writing and formal speech)
| A conjunctive phrase that presents an undesirable hypothetical situation. | If ~ happen to; if ~ at all; if ~ choose to |
| 【Related Expression: たりしたら】 | |
(ks). 山野氏は非常に時間に厳しい人で、面会時間に5分も遅れようものなら以後二度と会ってはもらえない。
Mr. Yamano is very strict about time; if you happen to be even five minutes late for an appointment with him, he won't meet with you again.
| Vvolitional | ものなら | |
| 聞こうものなら | If someone asks at all | |
| 食べようものなら | If someone eats something at all |
(a). 私はタバコの煙に特に敏感で、近くで吸われようものならもう何事にも集中できなくなってしまう。
I'm particularly sensitive to cigarette smoke, so when someone is smoking nearby, I cannot concentrate on anything.
(b). ニューヨークでは信号が青に変わって一秒でも発進が遅れようものなら、すかさず後ろからクラクションを鳴らされる。
In New York, if you happen to take even a second to move (your car) forward after the traffic light turns green, the driver behind you honks at you immediately.
(c). この島は、晴れていれば散歩や海水浴などが楽しめるが、雨に降られようものなら何もやることがなくなる。
On this island, you can have fun walking and swimming in the ocean on sunny days, but if it happens to rain, there's nothing to do.
(d). この飛行機は前の座席との間隔が極端に狭いので、私のように大きい人間は、前の人に椅子を倒されようものなら、文字通り身動きできなくなってしまう。
The seats in this airplane have an extremely small amount of space between them, so if someone in the seat ahead chooses to lean back, large people like me are stuck (literally: are in a situation in which they literally cannot move).
(e). 最近頻繁にやってくる訪問販売は頭痛の種です。断っても簡単には帰りませんし、うっかり家の中に入れようものなら買うまで帰りません。
The frequent visits of door-to-door salesmen these days are a real headache. The salesmen won't leave even if you say "no thanks," and if you happen to let them in the house by mistake, they won't leave until you buy (their products).
(f). 花粉症の季節にうっかりバイクで出かけようものなら、走行中にくしゃみ連発でフルフェイスのヘルメットの中は悲惨な状態になる。
If you happen to go out on a motorcycle in pollen season (literally: pollen allergy season) by mistake, you'll keep sneezing and be miserable inside your full-face helmet.
(g). この魚は猛毒を持っていて、間違ってそのトゲに刺されようものなら、患部が大きく腫れ上がってしまう。
This fish is very poisonous, and if you happen to be stung, that area will swell a lot.
(h). 田村さんは最近漢方医学に凝っていて、うっかりそのことを聞こうものなら、たっぷり一時間はその効用を聞くはめになる。
Ms. Tamura has taken up (studying) Chinese medicine recently and if you ask her about it by mistake, you will end up listening to (her talk about) its effects for a full hour.
